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Topic Review (Newest First)

01-17-2014 11:28 AM

Liz&Anna

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyoung2153

I believe I have read most of the posts so sorry if this is repetitive.. BUT I agree with the no weight, not at 4.5 months.. as well as the distance being too far (though not everyday, it still takes a toll. Only because she is just starting to grow and you said it yourself, you don't want to damage her. I think it's awesome you dedicate time to exercise her though, keep that mentality as she gets older and you will be a much happier mom

Second thing I took note of was the "never ending energy" Sounds pretty much exactly like Titan. He is working line as well and good Lord does that boy have energy. I don't know what your home life is like and the kind of access she gets to toys and such. I learned this late in the game, when he was 1.5, but it made my life so much easier, I wish I had started it as a puppy..

These are some things helped us as far as energy.. A no kidding, stick to the schedule, physical routine. Meaning if you walk every morning, walk every morning. If you run after work, run after work. Obviously life happens and sometimes you can't do what you want, but the routine when it came to his physical exercise was key because he knew that he would get to run off his energy at specific times. Same as playing fetch because God only knows that's the only thing Titan ever wants to do with his life is fetch a ball. Lol. People forget how routine dogs are, not only do they like the routine but it actually brings their stress level down too.

What worked for us (remember he was older when this was initiated so vary the distance/times on your part) was a 2 mile walk/run in the mornings. Half way in we would stop at the dog park and play fetch/OB, then continue home. After work same thing. If I was unable to walk to the dog park for whatever reason, we played about 45 minutes of non-stop fetch. I literally would play with 2 balls, once he brought one back another was thrown in an instant. Inside we played various mind games, at the time I didn't have puzzles, so we hid things and asked him to find them, anything from Toys to treats, to whatever. He loved it and was always willing to find anything!

I would also suggest toy restriction. Because Titan has so much drive and energy, we had to teach that inside time was only playtime when the human initiated it. So, even to this day and he's 4 now, we have a toy box that holds his toys and he can't get into it unless we open it for him. This actually reduced his energy inside because there was nothing out to trigger the "playtime" vibe. I got him lots of chews, marrow bones, knuckle bones, bully sticks, antlers, etc. And when it was time to settle, he got one and told to "go to bed" which is just his area in the living room.

Titan is still go go go, but he knows the times he will get to let loose, he will still try to get us to play with him every now and then but has pretty much gotten the idea that it's not up to him. We also do SAR on the weekends so that's another channel that he exerts himself in.

Sorry that was so long, but it hit home with me when you talked about her energy level. I know first hand that it can be very frustrating when you don't know how to channel it or you think you are channeling it correctly and she still doesn't seem to "stop."

Thank you!!! I have bones and chewable things that i pick up and put down a few times a day, also she can't have plush toys -__- she eats them.. No tugs on the floor hahah she's CRAZY with them and I hide her balls in the kitchen and take them out when I want to play because she NEVER STOPS BRINGING IT BACK!

Yes I don't want to damage her! She is working line though (not sure if that makes a difference) she NEVER STOPS, she won't settle in the house unless she is crated, then she will sleep but when she's out she is ready to GO, so 6 miles isn't to much to her I don't think, it's about a 3 hour hike for us. I can hold off on the pack though I don't want to hurt her

I believe I have read most of the posts so sorry if this is repetitive.. BUT I agree with the no weight, not at 4.5 months.. as well as the distance being too far (though not everyday, it still takes a toll. Only because she is just starting to grow and you said it yourself, you don't want to damage her. I think it's awesome you dedicate time to exercise her though, keep that mentality as she gets older and you will be a much happier mom

Second thing I took note of was the "never ending energy" Sounds pretty much exactly like Titan. He is working line as well and good Lord does that boy have energy. I don't know what your home life is like and the kind of access she gets to toys and such. I learned this late in the game, when he was 1.5, but it made my life so much easier, I wish I had started it as a puppy..

These are some things helped us as far as energy.. A no kidding, stick to the schedule, physical routine. Meaning if you walk every morning, walk every morning. If you run after work, run after work. Obviously life happens and sometimes you can't do what you want, but the routine when it came to his physical exercise was key because he knew that he would get to run off his energy at specific times. Same as playing fetch because God only knows that's the only thing Titan ever wants to do with his life is fetch a ball. Lol. People forget how routine dogs are, not only do they like the routine but it actually brings their stress level down too.

What worked for us (remember he was older when this was initiated so vary the distance/times on your part) was a 2 mile walk/run in the mornings. Half way in we would stop at the dog park and play fetch/OB, then continue home. After work same thing. If I was unable to walk to the dog park for whatever reason, we played about 45 minutes of non-stop fetch. I literally would play with 2 balls, once he brought one back another was thrown in an instant. Inside we played various mind games, at the time I didn't have puzzles, so we hid things and asked him to find them, anything from Toys to treats, to whatever. He loved it and was always willing to find anything!

I would also suggest toy restriction. Because Titan has so much drive and energy, we had to teach that inside time was only playtime when the human initiated it. So, even to this day and he's 4 now, we have a toy box that holds his toys and he can't get into it unless we open it for him. This actually reduced his energy inside because there was nothing out to trigger the "playtime" vibe. I got him lots of chews, marrow bones, knuckle bones, bully sticks, antlers, etc. And when it was time to settle, he got one and told to "go to bed" which is just his area in the living room.

Titan is still go go go, but he knows the times he will get to let loose, he will still try to get us to play with him every now and then but has pretty much gotten the idea that it's not up to him. We also do SAR on the weekends so that's another channel that he exerts himself in.

Sorry that was so long, but it hit home with me when you talked about her energy level. I know first hand that it can be very frustrating when you don't know how to channel it or you think you are channeling it correctly and she still doesn't seem to "stop."

01-17-2014 09:49 AM

LaRen616

At 14 weeks of age I was doing 3 mile walks a day with my Dal puppy, at 16 weeks of age we were doing 4 mile walks, at 20 weeks of age we were doing 5 miles.

I would like to do the backpack thing too eventually, I am tired of carrying my own water bottle.

01-17-2014 09:26 AM

DJEtzel

I don't think exercise that the dog wants will cause any health problems, however if the dog already can't settle inside, they need to be cut back while you work on teaching the dog an off switch.

And weight on a growing back, no matter how light, CAN and DOES damage those growing bones. That is not hearsay whatsoever.

01-17-2014 01:48 AM

BowWowMeow

I wouldn't put weight in the backpack yet but hikes of any distance are fine. My dog Chama went backpacking with me when she was 3 months old. We were hiking 4 to 8 hours a day. She lived to be 14+ years old, stayed incredibly fit and loved hiking all of her life.

And she walked 5 to 6 miles daily for most of her life (and had no trouble settling in the house).

01-17-2014 12:33 AM

Mikey von

Kimber, who is now 7 months, will be doing her 1st backpacking trip this weekend. She will be wearing a light pack. I hear a lot of people say not to hike too much, not to put weight in the pack, no stairs, ect.. but it is almost all hearsay or based on very limited studies. Just don't over do it and she will be fine.

PS. We also do 4-6 mile hikes every weekend and shorter hikes daily. She loves it and so do I!

01-15-2014 10:18 PM

Liz&Anna

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJEtzel

I would still cut back on the long hikes- you're still building her stamina. Work on mental stimulation at home for settling. Go to mat/relax/stay. Will wear her out much faster and will make your home life easier.

Got ya, my little guy can do a 45 minute down stay- Anna will get there to

She was faster than miles....her maybe two times...just sitting with her watching. Miles he was a bit slower....5 or 6 times...:-)
It comes with a DVD but I have not watched them....I wanted ours to be stumped as long as possible. This is the only way I can make breakfast and dinner without two GSD's underfoot. I get up at 4:45 to make breakfast for my husband and girls....we do obedience and play after they are dropped at school around 8:10am.... So this keeps their attention, they work for their food, and I get to make breakfast...:-) I am to focused on making breakfast, boxing lunches and loading for carline to do any obedience first thing in the morning....

Nook haha we don't do six miles a day- the longest hike she has done was 6 miles, I work 40 hours a week, so that's not a constant thing, I usually walk her about 40 minutes a day, we stop to do OB work about half way through. then head home

I would still cut back on the long hikes- you're still building her stamina. Work on mental stimulation at home for settling. Go to mat/relax/stay. Will wear her out much faster and will make your home life easier.

01-15-2014 10:01 PM

mcdanfam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz&Anna

Ok- that looks hard! How long did it take her to learn this??! That's pretty cool

She was faster than miles....her maybe two times...just sitting with her watching. Miles he was a bit slower....5 or 6 times...:-)
It comes with a DVD but I have not watched them....I wanted ours to be stumped as long as possible. This is the only way I can make breakfast and dinner without two GSD's underfoot. I get up at 4:45 to make breakfast for my husband and girls....we do obedience and play after they are dropped at school around 8:10am.... So this keeps their attention, they work for their food, and I get to make breakfast...:-) I am to focused on making breakfast, boxing lunches and loading for carline to do any obedience first thing in the morning....